The teenage victim of a serious sex attack has launched a campaign to change identity parade laws.

The courageous schoolgirl has spoken out after a suspect changed his appearance totally the day before an 'ID' parade.

Instead of being able to see his distinctive hairstyle and features the men on the parade all wore woolly hats pulled down to their eyebrows.

The girl, who was assaulted last November in Lund Park, Keighley couldn't pick him out and has now been told that no further action can be taken against the man

Within hours of being told he was 'free' the girl began her fight back.

When a teacher heard of her plight her school offered support.

She has already collected more than 100 names on an open letter petition.

In a plea to the public to join her campaign she says: "I hope you can help me achieve my one wish in life.

"That wish is to have the law changed so that people cannot change their appearance in the weeks leading up to and after an identity parade."

She explains: "He had a distinctive hair style and strange shaped ears.

"By the time a parade was held he had radically altered his hair style.

"So much so they were all wearing woolly hats pulled down to their eyes and over their ears.

"I didn't stand a chance of recognising him."

The girl, who the Keighley News has decided not to identify, adds: "The pain and misery that comes after an attack is never going to go away but knowing that the person who was suspected of doing it is not to face action just makes the suffering ten times worse."

Her petition is being handed to Keighley MP Ann Cryer.

She told us: "If it is the case that the police have no way of preventing them changing their appearance then the law needs changing.

"I will be writing to Paul Boateng (Minister of State and Deputy Home Secretary) to draw it to his attention.

"There must be a mechanism introduced such as using photographs taken at the time of an arrest if they have changed their appearance."

A spokesman for Keighley police says: "We have every sympathy with this girl and her situation.

"We have to follow the Police and Criminal Evidence Act of 1984 regarding identity procedures."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.